AEGiS-11IAC: Seroprevalence of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II in labour women and their neonates in a government maternity in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Seroprevalence of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II in labour women and their neonates in a government maternity in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:458 (abstract no. Pub.C.1129)
Andrade CA, Soares ES, Lima-Martins MV, Andrade AM, Goncalves RC, Costa JO, Santos JC, Carneiro-Proietti AB; Fundacao Hemominas and Maternidade Odete Valadares, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Fax: 5531-2262002.

INTRODUCTION: AIDS cases are increasing in Minas Gerais State, with accumulated numbers above 2,600. HIV-1 seroprevalence in blood donors (mostly males) in Fundacao Hemominas (State Blood Center) is 0.064% and HTLV-I/II is 0.42%, but they do not reflect the numbers in the general population, especially women.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the seroprevalence of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II in 1,500 pregnant women (and in the newborns of the mothers found positive) admitted at a government maternity for delivery; counsel the positive patients. Test for HCV and HBV.

METHODS: Blood was collected from all women admitted for delivery who were willing to participate, after informed consent, in the period of April 94 to January 95, and tested for HIV-1/2, HTLV-I/II, HCV and HBsAg (ELISA). The positive patients were invited by letter to have an interview with the social worker for counseling; the ones positive for HIV or HTLV answered an epidemiological questionnaire.

RESULTS: The prevalences found in the screening test were: HTLV-I/II - 1.13%; HIV-1/2 - 0.73%; HBsAg - 0.67%; HCV - 0.86%. In 14 women with ELISA positive for HTLV, the Western Blot (WB) was positive in 2 (14.3%), indeterminate in 4 (28.6%) and negative in 8 (57.1%). In 7 women with reactive HIV-1/2 ELISA tests, 4 were WB positive and 3 indeterminate. Five newborns of these mothers were tested: 3 were negative, one was indeterminate and one had both ELISA and WB positive, confirmed at nine months of age. Of the 29 patients positive for HTLV and HIV, only 15 (52.0%) returned for interview. Their mean age was 27.2 and 11 of them were between 25 and 34 years of age. Nine of them were semi-illiterate; six had no income and eight were living with minimum wage (U$ 98), in the poorest condition. Nine women had one or more risk behavior for HIV (STDs and /or multiple partners) and 2 had been previously transfused. Eleven of them had never used condoms.Comments: Despite the relatively small sample studied, we realize that the HIV and other sexually transmittable diseases can have a harmful impact on the already poverty-stricken population, with the increase of homeless children and rates of childhood diseases and mortality. Further studies are necessary to determine if these tests should be routinely done on prenatal care in this social setting, to improve prevention of vertical transmission.

Keywords: AEGIS, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1, Seroepidemiologic Studies, HIV-1, HIV Seroprevalence, Blotting, Western, HIV-2, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Blood Donors, Labor, Obstetric, HIV Antibodies, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis B Surface Antigens, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Brazil, Infant, Newborn, Human, Female, Male, Pregnancy, Child, ICA11

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